By Olakunle Agboola – This week has been a mirror image of thinking a way forward for Nigeria and the rest of Africa. I woke up very early in the morning with a call from a friend of 10 years. I was a bit dizzy while I managed to pick his call. How are you “ore” (friend) while he said he is fine, but he will need my help financially? I was a bit astonished because Tayo has never called me for financial help. I asked what the problem was, and he told me he is processing a visa to Canada and he will need my help because he had spent more than four million, which is not enough.
Tayo, do you want to relocate too? I thought you used to be optimistic about Nigeria. “Ore” (friend), ‘I don’t think I have that faith anymore. Things are just getting worse every day and we don’t have a good government not to talk of the right leadership that can fix this nation. I looked at my kids and I cried asking if there is hope for them with the situation of the country. Everything is dead with the state of insecurity under Buhari’s government. I need to secure a better future for my kids’
I was a bit emotional because of his testimony. I have had four of my friends leaving the country last week just to secure a better future for their kids abroad and now repeating the same lines brings tears to my eyes asking if Nigeria could ever get it right of securing a promising future for her citizens rather than migrating to another country.
The population of those leaving Nigeria in pursuit of greener pastures abroad keeps growing every day as they have lost all hope in their home country. Data published by the Canadian government in 2019 reveals that the number of Nigerians issued permanent residency has tripled since 2015. In fact, in 2019 alone, more than 12,000 Nigerians emigrated to Canada. Other popular migratory destinations for Nigerians include the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Germany, and South Africa. Beyond the question of brain drain (which the Nigerian government seems nonchalant about), this mass exodus of Nigerians of all classes invites more reflection on the Nigerian spirit and dream.
Tayo’s mind is made up and he won’t think less of securing a better future for his kids, which is wrapped up in quality education, good health facilities, portable water, zero tolerance to corruption, a good road network, social security, and a stable power supply. These are not far-fetched from what Nigeria can achieve, only if a good political structure for great leaders to emerge is a major priority. Canada or the United Kingdom would not have been attractive if their government had not been responsible for a sustainable system that caters to their citizens.
Aspirations to emigrate have become a Nigerian ideal. And not only that, but the desire also to leave Nigeria is now entrenched in the Nigerian psyche as many subsist to leave. The popular slang, ‘Japa’’ has become the official language of the emigrant, while relocating abroad has become a daily topic in business circles, offices, schools, and homes.
Tolu, a 16-year-old footballer in Isolo has no other thing to think about than leaving Nigeria and playing football in Europe. He comes to the Ire-Akari Primary school field to train almost every day with his team. I have once interviewed him and his teammates who are desperate to leave Nigeria by all means. They could have been convinced to join the Nigeria league but not when they are aware of popular football clubs in Europe where the likes of Mercy, Ronaldo, Neymar Jn. Just to mention a few are heavily paid. Tolu aspires to play in Europe and earn like Mercy or Ronaldo, which he feels is not far-fetched finding his way to Europe.
Three days ago, I got a call with a UK number. I thought it was one of my relatives calling with a new line, but I was surprised by an unusually thin voice on the phone. “Bros, do you remember Tolu who used to play football at Ire-Akari primary school”? I was very assertive because Tolu is a very popular striker in Ire-Akari. He said, ‘egbon’ I am now in Europe’. I was astounded considering his humble background and how he could have raised money to travel abroad. I concluded that he must have used plan B.
Did you use plan B Tolu? ‘Egbon you should know I don’t have the resources for plan A and definitely, it is plan B’. You went through the Mediterranean Sea, as I screamed on top of my voice. ‘The most important thing is that I am here. I will call you later and narrate the story’ He dropped the line and my heartbeat fast. And when he called back, he narrated the event of going through the Sahara Desert and finally crossing the Mediterranean Sea, in which he eventually lost two of his friends while only two of them made it to Europe.
The pursuit of a decent life and crossing the deadly routes to Europe has killed many Nigerians and not to talk of other African countries who use Sahara deserts and the Mediterranean Sea as an escape route. Tolu is one out of many who survived by staring at death in the face to get to Europe.
The collapse of public service, the rise of ethnocentric politics, and corruption have all contributed to the disintegration of the national ethos in most African countries while migration to Europe and America has become an alternative. And with the high rates of unemployment, poverty, collapsed infrastructure, banditry, kidnapping, killing, and police brutality, the Nigerian government struggles to prove its legitimacy and credibility to its citizenry.
One should not be told that the price of food commodities has gone high which is becoming difficult for average Nigerians to afford three square meals per day. There is a growing population of Nigerian youths who have turned to internet scams, arm robbery, yahoo plus, and money rituals just to survive while the result badly affects innocent citizens which many have died and some living in misery. Many Nigerians now feel excluded from the country’s cartography of belonging and are unable to imagine a habitable future for themselves. The probable option is relocating abroad and reasons many are in a mad rush for UK or Canadian visa.
The finding shows that an average of 1,000 Nigerians apply for UK Visa daily while an average of 5000 apply in a week. The survey carried out in 2021 shows that 1000 applicants out of the average of 5000 applicants in a week are going with their family abroad. John, a businessman was interviewed at the immigration office in Lagos, and he said he has never been frustrated like this as a Nigerian and has made up his mind not to return to Nigeria again.
‘My friend spent almost 25 million to relocate his family to the UK. I am good to go with my family and I don’t care how much it will cost to relocate. I can’t continue living like this in a country where you can’t sleep with your two eyes closed. We don’t have a government and all the people governing us are all agents of the devil because they don’t have good intentions for the people. Just look at so many people who have come to apply for a UK Visa including health practitioners. It is a national shame.
The quest to travel to Europe could be demystified through expanding the economy and enacting similar social security benefits as obtained in Europe to assuage the biting youth unemployment in Nigeria and not through rhetoric. It is up to the Nigerian government to do the needful by finding the heart of change.
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